A Review of Irish Overseas Development Aid Program 2020

This paper examines Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the year 2020 with a particular focus on three important issues. First, we examine Ireland’s performance in relation to the target of achieving total ODA of at least 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI), and ODA to least developed countries (LDCs) of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of GNI by 2030. Second, we document the factors behind a further shift towards multilateral aid over the period as shown by trends in ODA multilateral and bilateral spending. Third, we trace the composition of spending within bilateral and multilateral ODA with a focus on the allocation of spending in the context of gender equality; humanitarian assistance; climate change; and governance.